Air cooling device



April 10, 1956 Filed April 21, 1952 Fig.

c. c. STRATTON AIR COOLING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig 4 W/IO Cleo 6. Sfrafion INVENTOR.

Mm MM EMg April 10, 1956 c. c. STRATTON 2,741,105

' AIR COOLING DEVICE Filed April 21, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 Fig. 2

Cleo 6. Sim/Ian INVENTOR.

BY whim April 10, 1956 c. c. STRATTON AIR COOLING DEVICE Filed April 21, 1952 Fig. 3

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Clea 6. Siraflon INVENTOR.

Y MM fim United States Patent AIR CDQLING DEVICE Cleo C. Stratton, San Bernardino, Calif., assignor, by direct and mcsne assignments, to Phil Warren, San Bernardino County, Calif.

Application April 21, 1952, Serial No. 283,417

12 Claims. (Cl. 62-440) This invention relates to an air cooling device and particularly to a cooler operated by the icing effect of a venturi in air. It has long been known that air under certain conditions when subjected to a venturi action will cause a rapid decrease in temperature as is evidenced by the freezing of carburetors on warm days and by the formation of ice on the leading edges of airplane wings at relatively elevated temperatures. The present invention utilizes the venturi efiect found on the leading edges of certain types of airplane wings to produce a cooling effect on an air stream. It has long been know that certain types of airplane wings having a rapidly upwardly curved leading edge and a tapered trailing edge are particularly susceptible to icing. The present invention utilizes this particular type of wing or air foil formation to increase the cooling effect in the cooler device.

The present invention provides a cylinder inside of which a plurality of vanes or airfoils rotate adjacent to the inner surface of the cylinder to provide substantially venturi shaped openings therebetween. A stream of air is pased over the outer surface of the cylinder to deliver heat thereto so as to prevent ice formation on the leading edge of the vanes or airfoils rotating within the cylinder. It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide an improved air cooler.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an air cooler operative by the rotation of a venturi in a closed cylinder.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an air cooling system which will take warm humid air and provide cool dry air therefrom.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of therinvention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cooler according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical section through the cooler taken substantially on the plane indicated by line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross section through the cooler taken substantially on the plane indicated by line 3-3 of Fig ure 2;

Figure 4 is a partial crosssection through the cooler taken substantially on a plane indicated by line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken substantially on the plane indicated by line 5--5 of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a rear elevation of the cooler.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention a substantially rectangular casing 10 is provided with an air intake 12 and an air exhaust opening 14. The air intake 12 is preferably provided with suitable filtering device 16.

The housing 10 may be constructed of any suitable material but is preferably constructed of sheet metal preferably mounted on a suitable rigid framework. For

permanent installation the casing 10 will usually be pro- 2,741,105 Patented Apr. 10, 19,56

7 provide an air passage 24 therebetween. Preferably the cylinders 20 and 22 are maintained in rigidly spaced relation to each other by means of a plurality of posts 26. An annular fan 28 is mounted adjacent the end of the passage 24 for driving air therethrough. The rear end of the inner cylinder 20 is provided with a closure 31] to prevent return of the air from the passage 24 through the interior of the cylinder 20 to the fan 28.

A bearing bracket 32 is mounted on the closure 30 and a bearing bracket 34 is mounted on a support 36 adjacent the forward or intake end of the device. A shaft 38 is journaled in the bearings 34 and 32 and has an end 40 extending through the bearing 34 and having a sheave 42 mounted thereon. A spider 44 has a hub 46 fixed on the shaft 38 and supports the shroud ring 48 of the fan 28 so that the shroud ring 48 is substantially a continuation of the inner cylinder 26. The fan is also preferably provided with an outer shroud ring 49 which moves inside of and closely adjacent to the inner surface of the outer cylinder 22. A motor 59 is mounted on a bracket 54 secured inside of the casing 10 and adjacent the front of the cylinders 21) and 22. A belt 56 is is entrained over a sheave 53 on the motor 59 and over the sheave 42 mounted on the overhung end 46 of the shaft 38.

Adjustable supports arms 69 are mounted on the shaft 33 and each of the support arms 60 includes a central member 62 which is rigidly connected to the shaft 38 and a pair of extremity members 64 and 66 which are adjustably connected on the central member 62. Members 64 and 66 are provided with angulated ends 68. Vanes or airfoils 70 are mounted on the angulated ends 68 of the various support members 60, each of the airfoils 79 having a substantially flat inner side 72 and a convex top surface 74. The airfoil or vane 70 is provided with a relatively abrupt upwardly curved or front leading edge 76 and a tapered or gently curving trailing edge 78. The formation of the upper surface of the airfoil 70 provides a passage 80 between the top surface 74 and the inner surface 82 of the cylinder 26 which is of substantially vcnturi shape. 7

The exterior surface 84 of the cylinder 20 is provided with a fin 86 which is preferably integrally connected to the cylinder 20 and extends substantially across the passage 24 and is arranged in spiral formation so that air passing through the passage 24will necessarily move in a spiral or tortuous path to be in substantially longer contact with the surface of the cylinder 20 and the surface of the fins 86. The cylinder 20 and the fins 86 are preferablyv constructed of good thermo conducting material such as copper or aluminum. The cylinder 20 is provided with a large number of relatively small apertures 90 and it has been found that optimum results are obtained when substantially 67 /z% of the surface of the cylinder 2% is provided with apertures 99 at the rate of four per square inch with the apertures being oneeighth inch in diameter. A sump 92 is provided below the cylinders 20 and 22 and the cylinder 22 is provided with drain apertures 94 so that any moisture condensing in the cylinders 20 and 22 may be drained into the sump 92. A pump 96 has an intake 98 in the sump 92 and delivery tube having a nozzle chamber 1122 for introducing a small quantity of moisture into the inner cylinder 20. A conduit 101 may extend intothe chamber 102 for introducing an initial vapor charge to start the cooling action in very dry conditions. Preferably the closed by means of a sliding door blower 113 is provided in communication with the duct 114 through a duct 11:? and draws air from thecharnber 112 upwardly through the venturi passage 116 and finally delivers it through the outlet opening 14 so it may be distributed as desired. Blower 118 is preferably driven by a sheave 129 having a belt 122 entrained over a sheave 124 mounted on the shaft of the motor 52. .The housing '10 is provided with a rear opening 13%) which is in the operation of the device the motor 52 will drive the shaft 38 so that the airfoils or vanes 79 will rotate adjacent the inner surface 82 of the inner cylinder 26 and the venturi action onthe airfoils 70 will cause cooling at the forward edge 76 thereof. Because of toe close proximity of the surface 74 to the cylinderlfi which is constructed of good heatconducting material the temperature of the air-foils 79 will be transmitted to the cylinder 2%) and the fins 86 thereon so that air driven by the blower 28 will transmit heat to the cylinder 29 which in turn will transmit heat to the airfoils '70 and keep it in a non-iced condition.

This transfer of heat leaves the air cool and since cooling of. the 'air reduces the dew point it is found that a film of moisture almost immediately forms on the cylinder 20.

If the air drawn in through the opening 12 is sufiiciently humid the action is automatic and the precipitation of moisture from the air will coat the cylinder 20 so that the apertures 96 will each contain a drop of water. It has been noted that this drop of water is in substantially constant vibration as the airfoils or vanes pass therearound but the drops remain constant in the hole and keep it closed. The exact function of the apertures 90 is not understood but is believed to in some manner stabilize the air within the cylinder '26 so that it does not tend to rotate with theairfoils 76.

When the air entering through the opening 12 is too dry cooling action is materially retarded and may not take place. To prevent this condition a pump 96 delivers Water through the nozzle 102 to saturate the air within the cylinder 20 so that the necessary conditions for cooling are present. 'Since too dry an air requires an addition of moisture and since it is observed that additional moisture has little or any effect on the device the pump 96 is usually run continuously and excessmoisture simply drains out through the openings 90 and the drain openings 94. Whenhumid air is passing through the passage 24 the air will be reduced below the dew point thereof so that a large quantity of the moisture therein will be condensed and drained through the apertures 94 into the sump .92 from which it will be carried to a drain not shown. i 7

When operating under optimum conditions the temperature within the inner drum 20 can be reduced to the order of 48 F. while the air stream through the passage 24 may be delivered at a temperature of 68 to 72 Pl Since the air at this temperature may be too cool and humid to be distributed it is collected in a chamber 110 and drawn upwardly by the blower 113 through a venturi p'ening'116 whichfurther eliminates the moisture therein and cause'the same'to precipitate into'thebottom of the chamber 112 from which it is drained to the sump 92.

In order-to control the temperature delivered from the device the closure 132 is opened to allow sufiicient warm air to-enter the chamber 112 to mix with the coldair so that the air delivered by the blower 118 is of the desired temperature. Hence the warm humid air entering the chamber'112 is mixed withgthecold'air delivered through the passage 24 and as it goes upwardly through the venturi .passage-lifiit will be thoroughly chilled and the moisture 4 deposited therefrom so that only dry cool air will be delivered by the blowenllfi.

While it is now believed that excess moisture within the drum 20 does not have any deleterious cifect on the cooling action the exact status of this material is unknown and it may be desirable to have the pump 96 selectively operated so that the pump .maybe operated only when the air enteringthe device contains insufiicient moisture to produce operation.

It will also ber-seen that the present invention provides a device utilizing thenaturalchilling of airns it travels through the venturi to both cool and dry airfor cooling purposes.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown, and described according to the. best present understanding thereof. It will be apparent that changes and modifications can be made therein'without departing from the true spirit of the invention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An air cooler comprising a pair ofconcentriccylinders providing an air channel therebetween, means providing moisture in said airchannel, a fan providing an air stream through said channel, the inner cylinder having a plurality of perforations therein, and a pair of'air foils rotating in said inner cylinder, said air foilshaving a rapidly upwardly curved leading edge and a tapered trailing edge.

2. An air cooler comprising a pair of concentric cylinders providing'an air channel therebetween, means providing moisturein said air channel, a'fan providing an air stream through said channel, the inner cylinder having a plurality of perforations therein, and a pair of air foils rotating in said inner cylinder, saidair foils having an abrupt upwardly curving front edge and a tapered trailing edge, the front end of said inner cylinder being open, the rear end of said inner cylinder being closed.

'3. An air cooler comprising a pair of concentric cylinders providing an air channel therebetv/een, means pro-' riding moisture in said air channel, a fan providing an air stream through said channel, the inner cylinder including a plurality of perforations therein, and an air foil assembly includingan air foil element rotatable in said inner cylinder, said air foil element including .a rapidly upwardly curving leading edge and a tapered trailing edge.

4. ,An air cooler comprising a pair of concentric cylinders providing an air channel therebetween, a fan providing an ,air stream through said channel, therinne'r cylinder having a plurality of perforations therein, a pair of airfoils rotating in said inner cylindensaid airjfoils having a convex surface in proximity. to the inner surface of .said inner cylinder, the front end .of said inner cylinder being open, the rear end of saidiuner cylinder beingclosed,.cooling fins secured to said inner cylinder and extendingjnto the channel between said cylinders, said fins being arranged in spiral formation, a sump below said cylinders, drainage connections from eachof said cylinders to said'sump, a pump operable to deliver small quantities of water from said sump into said irmer cylinder.

5. An air cooler comprising inner and outer tubul elements, said tubular elements being radially spaccdto provide an annular passage therebetween, means providmoisture in said annular passage, said inner-tubular element including a plurality of relatively small apertures therein, an impeller producing airflow throughsaidannular passage, an airfoil assembly including an airfoil element rotatably mounted in said inner cylinder said air foilelement including a substantially fiat inner surface and a convex surface.

6. Anaircooler-comprising inner and'outer cylinders,

said cylinders being radially spacedto provide an annular passage therebetween, means providing moisture in.;said annular passage, said inner cylinderhaving a plurality of relatively small apertures therein, an impeller producing airflow through said annular passage, a plurality of air foils rotating in said inner cylinder, said air foils having a substantially flat inner surface, an abrupt upwardly curved leading edge and a tapered trailing edge, one end of said inner cylinder being closed, an air duct connected to the outlet end of said passage, a stationary venturi in said duct.

7. An air cooler comprising inner and outer cylinders, said cylinders being radially spaced to provide an annular passage therebetween, means providing moisture in said annular passage, said inner cylinder having a plurality of relatively small apertures therein, an impeller producing airflow through said annular passage, a plurality of air foils rotating in proximity to the inner surface of said inner cylinder, one end of said inner cylinder being closed, an air duct connected to the outlet end of said passage, a stationary venturi in said duct, an auxiliary impeller in said duct, said duct having an adjustable aperture between the outlet of said passage and said vcnturi.

8. An air cooler comprising inner and outer cylinders, said cylinders being radially spaced to provide an annular passage therebetween, means providing moisture in said annular passage, said inner cylinder having a plurality of relatively small apertures therein, an impeller producing airflow through said annular passage, an airfoil assembly rotating in proximity to the inner surface of said inner cylinder, one end of said inner cylinder being closed, an air duct connected to the outlet end of said passage, a stationary venturi in said duct, a sump below said cylinders and said duct, and drainage means between said cylinders and said sump.

9. An air cooler comprising inner and outer cylinders, said cylinders being radially spaced to provide an annular passage therebetween, said inner cylinder having a plurality of relatively small apertures therein, an impeller producing airflow through said annular passage, a plurality of airfoils rotating in said inner cylinder, said airfoils having abrupt leading edge and a tapered trailing edge, one end of said inner cylinder being closed, an air duct connected to the outlet end of said passage, a stationary venturi in said duct, a sump below said cylinders and said duct, drainage apertures between said cylinders and said sump, a pump operable to deliver water from said sump into said inner cylinder.

10. An air cooler comprising a pair of radially spaced concentric cylinders, said cylinders providing a passage therebetween, means providing moisture in said passage, an impeller producing an airflow through the annular passage between said cylinders, the end of the inner cylinder adjacent the outlet end of said passage being closed, a plurality of apertures in said inner cylinder, an axial shaft journaled in said inner cylinder, a longitudinafly extending airfoil construction secured to said shaft, said airfoil construction including a vane including an outer surface having a sharply curving leading edge and an extended tapered trailing edge and a substantially plane inner surface, said outer surface being in proximity with the inner surface of said inner cylinder, and a motor operatively connected to said shaft.

11. An air cooler comprising a pair of radially spaced concentric cylinders, said cylinders providing a passage thcrebetween, means providing moisture in said passage, an impeller producing an airflow through the annular passage between said cylinders, the end of the inner cylinder adjacent the outlet end of said passage being closed, a plurality of apertures in said inner cylinder, an axial shaft journaled in said inner cylinder, a plurality of longitudinally extending vanes secured to said shaft, said vanes including an outer surface having a sharply curving leading edge and an extended tapered trailing edge and a substantially plane inner surface, said outer surface being in proximity with the inner surface of said inner cyl nder, a motor operatively connected to said shaft, and an air duct communicating with the outlet of said passage including a tapered restriction in said air duct.

12. An air cooler comprising a pair of radially spaced concentric cylinders, said cylinders providing a passage therebetween, means providing moisture in said passage, an impeller producing an airflow through the annular passage between said cylinders, the end of the inner cylinder adjacent the outlet end of said passage being closed, a plurality of apertures in said inner cylinder, an axial shaft journaled in said inner cylinder, a plurality of longitudinally extending vanes secured to said shaft, said vanes including an outer surface having a sharply curving leading edge and an extended tapered trailing edge and a substantially plane inner surface, said outer surface being in proximity with the inner surface of said inner cylinder, a motor operatively connected to said shaft, spiral fins secured in good thermal conductivity with the outer surface of said inner cylinder, an air duct communicating with the outlet of said passage, a tapered restriction in said air duct, and an impeller in said duct beyond said restriction, said duct having an adjustable aperture between the outlet of said passage and said restriction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,607,065 Elliott Nov. 16, 1926 2,227,544 Gymnaiyes Jan. 7, 1941 2,441,279 McCollum May 11, 1948 

